Dedicated educators are promoting dialogue, acceptance and learning. They are hanging posters and reading books that remind students they are valued and essential parts of their communities. Some are wearing a safety pin to send a signal they are allies who support anyone being targeted for harassment.

Dedicated educators are promoting dialogue, acceptance and learning. They are hanging posters and reading books that remind students they are valued and essential parts of their communities. Some are wearing a safety pin to send a signal they are allies who support anyone being targeted for harassment.

This election has been a wake-up call. While there is uncertainty of what’s to come when President-elect Donald Trump takes office, reports of harassment are rising.

A student in California handed out deportation orders to students of “various ethnicities.” In Georgia, a student wrote a note to a Muslim teacher telling her to go hang herself with her hijab. One elementary school teacher reported a 10-year-old boy reaching under a girl’s skirt and using Trump as a model to justify his actions.

What does this mean for the next four years? What can parents and educators do?

I have been researching biased harassment in schools since the early ’90s. Never have I seen so many documented incidents covered in the media over such a short period of time.

Although decades of research show that students of color, students with disabilities, and LGBTQ students experience elevated amounts of bullying and harassment in schools, it has never been in the public consciousness like it is now. Racial, sexual and homophobic harassment continue to be significant problems that interfere with students’ safety and sense of belonging at schools, and we need to do something about it.

Student safety, relationships with adults, and a sense of belonging at school are important factors that impact student academic achievement. Higher levels of in-school victimization are related to lower educational aspirations, higher rates of school discipline, and greater likelihood of missing school. If we don’t take a strong stand to stop bias and harassment, students — particularly the most vulnerable — disengage from our schools.

On the positive side, there are reports of teachers doing amazing things to ensure students feel safe and supported at school.

Dedicated educators are promoting dialogue, acceptance and learning. They are hanging posters and reading books that remind students they are valued and essential parts of their communities. Some are wearing a safety pin to send a signal they are allies who support anyone being targeted for harassment.

Although some argue that wearing a safety pin is too small of a gesture, I disagree. As a queer person who has spent her adult life seeking signs of safety and affirmation in rainbow flags, ally stickers, and safe-space posters, I can say it makes a difference to me. A public symbol of support matters.

The importance of the safety pin, and our actions, is to be an “upstander” in anti-bullying language — someone who will stand beside you, interrupt, intervene (if safe to do so), provide support, and report if hateful words or actions are directed towards anyone, particularly marginalized groups in our society.

In addition to wearing a safety pin and interrupting biased harassment, educators can design and lead lessons on issues of diversity, equity and community engagement. The Teaching Tolerance website has a great searchable database of lessons for any grade-level and all content areas.

As we all learn to make sense of a new reality under President Trump, I encourage all those tasked with supporting and protecting youth to be attentive to issues of harassment, school climate, and student safety. Regardless of whom you voted for, I hope we can all agree that everyone should feel safe, supported and valued in our schools.

Elizabeth Meyer is a former high school teacher and current associate dean for teacher education at the University of Colorado Boulder School of Education. Her research focuses on issues related to school climate and gender and sexual diversity in K-12 schools.

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